THE WALL OF FACES

I served with Special Forces Det. A-109 Thuong Duc as 31A. Estel was our communications specialist. He was our life line (by morse code key)with Danang, our "C Detachment" as our small numbers were under constant threat of being overrun by NVA. He also conducted combat patrols against the NVA in our remote and dangerous area. Estel was a fine man, great sense of humor, loved country music and loved his family dearly. He was a joy to be around in good and trying times. Sadly, he and a small support force of CIDG were ambushed en route to man an early-warning post on our perimeter. Estel called us on the radio during this ordeal and we tried like mad to save him. His final attempted escape from the overwhelming NVA force was a mad dash to the Song Vu Gia river, but it was too late. He was shot and KIA instantly.
My sympathies and best wishes to his family. He spoke of you all often. I have missed him these many years.